Infections of musculoskeletal system

Answorth A. Allen, MD, and Mathias P. Bostrom, MD, Appointed Associate Surgeons-in-Chief NEW YORK, Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the world's leading academic medical center specialized in musculoskeletal health, today announced the appointment of Answorth A. Allen, MD, and Mathias P. Bostrom, MD, as Associate Surgeons-in-Chief. The announcement was made by Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA, Surgeon-in-Chief, Medical Director and President, and Douglas E. Padgett, MD, the current Associate Surgeon-in-Chief. Padgett will succeed Kelly in the senior medical role on September 5, when Kelly succeeds Louis A. Shapiro as CEO. Continue Reading HSS appoints Answorth A. Allen, MD (left) and Mathias P. Bostrom, MD (right) as Associate Surgeons in Chief. In addition, Dr. Allen will succeed Douglas E. Padgett, MD as Deputy Medical Director and Dr. Bostrom will be appointed Director of Quality and Safety effective September 5th. Drs. Kelly, Padgett, Allen, and Bostrom will work within a new leadership structure, together with Physician-in-Chief S. Louis Bridges, MD, PhD, to support and ensure the highest standards in patient care, research, education, innovation, compliance, and quality control are upheld as HSS expands. Additionally, they will identify and support emerging initiatives focused on injury prevention, non-surgical and surgical care. "Leading the world's greatest concentration of medical talent in our field at this moment of unprecedented need and opportunity is a special responsibility and privilege," said Dr. Kelly. "Under Dr. Padgett's leadership, Dr. Allen and Dr. Bostrom will help ensure HSS remains the best place in the world for patients to receive the care we provide, and the best place in the world for the most gifted medical providers to realize their potential." Specialized in orthopedics, rheumatology and related disciplines since 1863, HSS is today a world leader in research, innovation, and education. It has been ranked no. 1 in orthopedics worldwide by Newsweek for the past three years, and nationwide by U.S. News & World Report for the past 14 years. US News & World Report also ranks HSS no. 2 in the nation for Rheumatology and a Best Hospital for Pediatric Orthopedics. In 2022, HSS provided care to 200,000 patients from all 50 states and 80 countries and performed more than 38,000 surgical procedures. It provides continuing clinical education to more than 27,000 medical specialists in 165 countries. "The success of an organization is connected to the strength and values of its leadership," said Dr. Padgett, who was appointed the first Associate Surgeon-in-Chief and Deputy Medical Director at HSS in 2019. "I am honored to work alongside Answorth and Mathias, who are uniquely qualified to help further our mission and ensure we continue to provide the highest quality musculoskeletal care to all our patients." Answorth A. Allen, MD Dr. Allen, the medical director for HSS West Side, is a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder, knee, and elbow surgery, as well as a Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC). He earned his medical degree from WCMC, completed residency programs at The New York Orthopaedic Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and did a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. He has authored over 150 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on shoulder, knee, and elbow conditions. "I am honored to be joining the medical leadership team at HSS, which is committed to delivering best-in-class healthcare experiences," said Dr. Allen. "HSS has and will continue to grow exponentially, and I look forward to assisting in the next phase of advancement and excellence." Dr. Allen will succeed Dr. Padgett as Deputy Medical Director. Dr. Allen is the team orthopedist for the New York Knicks professional men's basketball team and an orthopedic consultant for the West Indies Cricket Board of Control. Previously, he has served as an assistant team physician for both the New York Saints lacrosse team and the New York State Racing Association; a staff physician for the New York State Athletic Commission and the Hunter Mountain Ski Sports Center; and an assistant team physician for the University of Pittsburgh and assistant company physician for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Mathias P. Bostrom, MD In 2019, Dr. Bostrom was appointed chief of adult reconstruction and joint replacement at HSS, succeeding Dr. Padgett. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, been the principal investigator of NIH-funded research, and served as director of HSS Education and Academic Affairs since 2003. He has led the HSS Fellowship Program from 2002 to 2019 and its nationally top-ranked Residency Program from 2005 to 2019 and served as chief of the HSS Hip Service from 2014 to 2019. "HSS is known for providing comprehensive and collaborative care to all our patients, and I am committed to building upon that legacy," said Dr. Bostrom, who in addition to becoming Associate Surgeon-in-Chief will be appointed Director of Quality and Safety. "I am also grateful for this leadership opportunity, and I am excited to work alongside talented and remarkable teams to advance the field of musculoskeletal health." Dr. Bostrom specializes in hip and knee surgery, including complex reconstructions and treatment of musculoskeletal infections. A graduate of the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins, he completed his residency and two fellowships at HSS before joining the faculty in 1996. Dr. Bostrom currently practices at the HSS main campus in New York City and sees patients at HSS Westchester. Dr. Bostrom is a member of the Hip Society, the Orthopaedic Research Society, and the International Society for Fracture Repair. Drs. Allen and Bostrom will assume their new roles in the HSS Office of Medical Leadership on September 5, 2023. "The leadership team have demonstrated outstanding stewardship qualities, and their concentration in executing key health and operational initiatives will continue to advance HSS as a recognized global leader in the healthcare market," said Shapiro. "It's an exciting time at HSS as leadership advances our Purpose: to help people get back to what they need and love to do, better than any other place in the world." SOURCE Hospital for Special Surgery

SAN DIEGO, July 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Histogen Inc. (NASDAQ: HSTO), a clinical-stage therapeutics company focused on developing potential first-in-class clinical and preclinical small molecule pan-caspase and caspase selective inhibitors that protect the body’s natural process to restore immune function, today announced that it has completed a review of its business, including the status of programs, resources and capabilities, and has decided to pause further development of its programs and commence a process to explore strategic alternatives with the intent to enhance shareholder value. Histogen has engaged Roth Capital Partners, LLC, to act as a strategic advisor in this process. Potential strategic alternatives that may be explored or evaluated as part of this process include an acquisition, merger, reverse merger, other business combination, sale of assets, financing alternatives, licensing, or other strategic transactions involving the company. There can be no assurance of a transaction, a successful outcome of these efforts, or the form or timing of any such outcome. The company does not intend to make any further disclosures regarding the strategic review process unless and until a specific course of action is approved by the company’s Board of Directors or until the company determines that further disclosure is appropriate. “We remain excited about emricasan given its broad potential to treat both viral and bacterial infections as a more generalized host-based immunotherapeutic treatment without the risk of generating resistance,” said Steven J. Mento, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. “However, we have paused our development activities in order to preserve our remaining resources and extend our cash runway to explore strategic alternatives that have the potential to benefit shareholders” added Dr. Mento. About Emricasan Emricasan is an orally available pan-caspase inhibitor designed to reduce the activities of human caspases, which are enzymes that mediate inflammation and apoptosis. Emricasan has completed extensive toxicology testing including chronic toxicology and all required carcinogenicity testing. Emricasan has previously been shown to be well tolerated in multiple clinical studies involving approximately 1,000 subjects employing multiple doses ranging from 1 mg to 500 mg orally and has been safely dosed chronically for up to two years in immunosuppressed patients. Emricasan was tested in a Phase 1 study in mild symptomatic COVID-19 patients to assess safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy. Five of five patients who completed treatment with emricasan had a complete resolution of the symptoms most commonly associated with mild COVID-19 by day seven compared to zero of six on placebo. Four of five patients on emricasan compared with one of six patients on placebo were virus negative by day fourteen. The mean antibody index against COVID was 6.98 in emricasan treated patients compared to 5.32 in those receiving placebo at the end of the study on day forty-five. About Histogen Inc. Histogen Inc. is a clinical-stage therapeutics company focused on developing potential first-in class clinical and preclinical small molecule pan-caspase and caspase selective inhibitors that protect the body’s natural process to restore immune function. Our pipeline includes emricasan, CTS-2090 and other proprietary caspase inhibitors. We believe that emricasan has the potential to treat infections in a different way; by protecting the competence of the body’s immune system thereby restoring the body’s natural process to combat invading organisms. By focusing on optimizing the immune response, we believe that emricasan can be a viable option for physicians to treat and cure certain infectious diseases without the risk of generating resistance. CTS-2090 and other proprietary selective small molecule inhibitors of caspase-1 are designed for the treatment of certain inflammatory diseases. For more information, please visit www.histogen.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other Federal securities laws. These statements include, without limitation, implied and express statements relating to: Histogen conducting a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives focused on enhancing shareholder value; exploring potential strategic alternatives that may include, but are not limited to, an acquisition, merger, reverse merger, other business combination, sale of assets, financing alternatives, licensing or other strategic transactions involving the company; the completion of such a review process; and the potential success of and development of Histogen’s pipeline of products, including emricasan, CTS-2090 and other proprietary caspase inhibitors. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “designed,” “endeavor,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “preliminary,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The express or implied forward-looking statements included in this press release are only predictions and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation: volatility and uncertainty in the capital markets for biotechnology companies; availability of suitable third parties with which to conduct contemplated strategic transactions; whether Histogen will be able to pursue a strategic transaction, or whether any transaction, if pursued, will be completed on attractive terms; whether Histogen’s cash resources will be sufficient to fund Histogen’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements; and the future development and potential for viability of each of the Histogen’s programs and pipeline products. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including those risks discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise required by law, Histogen disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events, or circumstances or otherwise. CONTACT: Susan A. KnudsonExecutive Vice President, COO & CFO Histogen Inc. ir@histogen.com

Distribution Partner Secures Contract Relating to Cervical Cancer ScreeningMISSISSAUGA, Ontario, July 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX, OTCQX: MBXBF, Microbix®), a life sciences innovator, manufacturer, and exporter, announces that its quality assessment products (“QAPs™”) have been selected to support a screening program for Human Papilloma Virus (“HPV”) using molecular diagnostic (“MDx”) technology across The Netherlands, an EU member-state. Microbix’s local distribution partner, R-Biopharm, has secured a tendered contract to supply goods and services to support this national-level HPV-based cervical cancer screening program. The program is being driven by the instrumentation and reagents of the BD COR™ system and its Onclarity™ HPV assay. Microbix REDx® liquid-format IVD-regulated QAPs will be used to support the quality management system monitoring the ongoing accuracy of laboratory performance for the program. The program will invite women between the ages of 30 to 60 within the Dutch population of approximately 17.8 million. HPV is a family of over 100 virus sub-types, 14 of which are deemed “high-risk” as they may cause cancers, most notably cervical cancer, if not resolved by the immune system. Most sexually-active adults become infected with one or more HPV types and such infections can be persistent. MDx tests permit early detection and timely preventative healthcare by identifying those at-risk years before cancer develops. However, MDx-based screening programs require rigorous quality systems and ongoing monitoring of test accuracy, in particular when performed in multiple laboratories and using multiple equipment lines. This includes creating workflow algorithms, implementing strict QC/QA practices, training staff to be proficient, and sourcing materials and methods to evaluate testing workflows. Microbix’s portfolio of HPV-directed QAPs are used to help ensure the ongoing accuracy of MDx testing. Dr. Andreas Simons, Director, Project Management Clinical Diagnostics of R-Biopharm stated, “It’s a pleasure to support this important women’s health initiative of the Dutch national screening agency, Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland. The next contract period of this primary cervical cancer screening program is now beginning, with its quality management supported by R-Biopharm and Microbix’s QAPs.” An initial order for HPV-directed QAPs has been shipped by Microbix and it is expected that its QAPs sales under this tender contract will reach several hundred thousand Canadian Dollars. Microbix and its distribution partners are likewise targeting to support MDx and HPV-based cervical cancer screening programs in other countries across the EU and in North America. Dr. Rob Schuurman, National Reference Officer for the Dutch Cervical Cancer Screening Program (BVO), noted “MDx testing for HPV improves cervical cancer screening by identifying those at-risk efficiently. Close monitoring of the entire HPV testing workflow is critical to realizing this healthcare goal and Microbix’s HPV QAPs have been selected to support the quality assessment monitoring of the molecular testing process, a vital part of BVO’s quality management system.” About Microbix BiosystemsMicrobix creates proprietary biological products for human health, with over 100 skilled employees and annualized sales targeting C$ 2.0 million per month. It makes a wide range of critical ingredients and devices for the global diagnostics industry, notably antigens for immunoassays and its laboratory quality assessment products (QAPs™) that support clinical lab proficiency testing, enable assay development and validation, or help ensure the quality of clinical diagnostic workflows. Its antigens drive the antibody tests of approximately 100 diagnostics makers, while QAPs are sold to clinical laboratory accreditation organizations, diagnostics companies, and clinical laboratories. Microbix QAPs are now available in over 30 countries, distributed by 1WA (Oneworld Accuracy Inc.), Alpha-Tec Systems, Inc., Diagnostic International Distribution SpA., Labquality Oy, The Medical Supply Company of Ireland, Neo-Science Equipment LLC, R-Biopharm AG, SDT Molecular Pte Ltd, Seegene Canada Inc., and Thomas Scientific LLC. Microbix is ISO 9001 and 13485 accredited, U.S. FDA registered, Australian TGA registered, Health Canada establishment licensed, and provides CE marked products. Microbix also applies its biological expertise and infrastructure to develop other proprietary products and technologies, most notably viral transport medium (DxTM™) to stabilize patient samples for lab-based molecular diagnostic testing and Kinlytic® urokinase, a biologic thrombolytic drug used to treat blood clots. Microbix is traded on the TSX and OTCQX, and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Forward-Looking InformationThis news release includes “forward-looking information,” as such term is defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, discussion of any customer or distributor herein, or any MDx-based screening programs, MDx testing for HPV or its relevance, the products or services of Microbix, Microbix’s business and business results, goals or outlook, risks associated with financial results and stability, development projects such as those referenced in its corporate presentation, regulatory compliance and approvals, sales to foreign jurisdictions, engineering and construction, production (including control over costs, quality, quantity and timeliness of delivery), foreign currency and exchange rates, maintaining adequate working capital or raising further capital on acceptable terms or at all, and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. These statements reflect management’s current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Accordingly, actual future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and represent the Company’s judgement as of the date of this new release, and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information. Please visit https://microbix.com or www.sedar.com for recent Microbix news and filings. For further information, please contact Microbix at: Cameron Groome, CEO(905) 361-8910Jim Currie,CFO(905) 361-8910Deborah Honig,Investor RelationsAdelaide Capital Markets(647) 203-8793ir@microbix.com Copyright © 2023 Microbix Biosystems Inc. Microbix®, DxTM™, Kinlytic®, QAPs™, and REDx™ are trademarks of Microbix Biosystems Inc.COR™ and Onclarity™ are trademarks of Becton, Dickinson and Company